Fascinating Encounter: Whitetip Reef Sharks with Blacktip Reef Shark (00021246)

Description: The whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) is a small shark usually not exceeding 1.6 m in length. This species is easily recognizable by its slender body, short but broad head and its white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins. It is one of the most common sharks found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Typically the whitetip reef shark it is found on or near the bottom in clear water, at a depth of 8-40 m. Whitetip reef sharks mainly feed on bone-eating fish living in the reef. The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) reaches a maximum length of 160 cm, has a gray-brown base color, and all fins are tipped in black. The tail fin has a black border. This shark species is often found in the intertidal zone and can also be found in very shallow waters. The blacktip reef shark is almost always found at Shark Reef.

Location: Vitu Levu, Beqa Lagoon, , Fiji

Date of Capture: 09.08.2009